Samia ceramensis
(Bouvier, 1927) (Philosamia cynthia ceramensis)

Samia ceramensis courtesy of Ulrich Paukstadt

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802 Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834 Tribe: Attacini, Blanchard, 1840 Genus: Samia, Hubner, 1819

MIDI MUSIC "Asian Spring Blossoms" ON.OFF <bgsound src="AsianSpringBlossoms.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

The Samia ceramensis moth (male forewing length: 66-70mm) flies only on Ceram (Seram) in the central Moluccas of Indonesia.

The forewing postmedial line splits the wing in half and there is a great suffusion of pinkish-white scales from the pm line to the outer margin. Stephan Naumann reports it from Papua New Guinea.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The species probably broods continuously but there are very few records, and they are from October-November.

Larvae are probably polyphagous on native trees, but ailanthus would be a good bet.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

The female probably begins scenting after dark by projecting a scent gland from the posterior tip of her abdomen. Males fly into the breeze and hone in on the pheromone plume via their highly developed and sensitive antennae.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited on host foliage with incubation requiring eight to ten days.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Polyphagous ?.......

eats everything

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